Down the Valley

by Ruvindra Sathsarani

Down the valleythrough the dense vegetationof trees, grass, purple wild flowersthe ghostly lament of the seaand trains swishing past, ceaselesslytowards the City and back again.

The greenery, so wild, wild!Undisturbed, waving in the wind.The rustling leaves, heard within the peaceof my heart and the wild birdshiding under the foliage, singing ceaselessly.

Some years ago, they brought tombstoneswhen they came back from war,big headstones with names on themwith faces too, thousands lined up on the soft brown earthconquered the valley we lovedchased us away, the leaves, the grass and the feathers.

Still the sea laments, ceaselessly.

Poets Note on Down the Valley:

The poem is to be read with reference to the socio-political changes caused by the 30 year war in Sri Lanka.

Editor’s Note on Down the Valley:

This is not Ruvindra Sathsarani’s first work to appear in Eastlit. Her previous published pieces are: